Metrolink

Metrolink, the commuter railroad that serves Southern California, has overhauled the look and content of its website to make it easier for the public to get information about routes, schedules and tickets. The new features allow commuters to plan trips, find stations, learn about service changes and create personalized accounts, called “My Metrolink.” General news about the railroad also is available as well as a calculator for ticket prices. “The vision was to improve the website's user experience to make riding the train more accessible to everyone in Metrolink's six¿county service area,” said Deborah Golian Castro, the chief executive officer of Creative Productions in Long Beach, which developed the site.

More than three years after the deadly Metrolink crash in Chatsworth, the commuter railroad is forging ahead with the most sophisticated collision avoidance system in the country despite efforts in Congress to relax requirements to install the safety improvement nationwide. Metrolink already has made substantial progress developing its $201-million positive train control system, which uses an array of electronic gear to monitor and, if necessary, take control of trains to prevent collisions and derailments.

GLENDALE — With its proximity to a propane company and trains traveling at high speeds, the Doran Street railroad crossing carries the most potential risk for disaster, officials said Thursday. It was because of that distinction that Metrolink officials brought "Operation Lifesaver" to Glendale to educate motorists on railroad safety, said Fred Jackson, the agency's safety and training manager. During the operation, Glendale police and railroad authorities cited 28 motorists for stopping on a railroad crossing and two pedestrians on suspicion of trespassing because they were walking on rail property, police said.

GLENDALE — A Glendale Public Works employee was one of several plaintiffs Tuesday who joined in the growing front of legal action against Metrolink for the September commuter train crash in Chatsworth that killed 25 and injured 135 others. Public Works Administrator Mike Wiederkehr joined at least five other passengers injured in the Sept. 12 crash in filing a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday against the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which operates Metrolink, and two subcontractors, seeking punitive damages and compensation for medical expenses.

LOS ANGELES — A class-action lawsuit against Metrolink over the 2005 derailment that killed 11 passengers continued to move ahead Monday after a Superior Court judge dismissed a defense motion that argued the trial would set a dangerous precedent. Attorney James Wakefield, who is representing Metrolink in the civil proceedings, told Superior Court Judge Emilie Elias that the crossing near the scene of the crash was similar to other right-of-way situations throughout the nation, and so allowing a class-action lawsuit to proceed would be the equivalent of calling hundreds of railroad crossings overtly dangerous.

Metrolink commuters in Burbank who use the Ventura County lines won a bit of a reprieve this week when the transit agency tentatively agreed to cut fewer trains from the schedule. Metrolink had planned on cutting 12 trains, but after Los Angeles County officials agreed to chip in about $318,000, the planned reduction was whittled down to four. While it may be good news for those commuters who faithfully use the rail transit system, the cutback is indicative of the struggles both sides are experiencing as they try to “find each other.

LOS ANGELES — A civil court judge Tuesday heard arguments from defense attorneys about liability and costs in a class-action lawsuit regarding the 2005 Metrolink train derailment in Glendale that killed 11 people. Attorney Brian Hershman, who represents Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, complained to Judge Emilie Elias during a hearing at the Central Civil West Courthouse that the Sheriff’s Department is being held just as liable as Metrolink in the lawsuit.

DOWNTOWN — Area representatives derided a series of proposed Metrolink fare hikes and service reductions, contending that their renewed pledge to boost public transportation would suffer significantly under diminished service. The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority on Monday unanimously opposed proposed cuts to Metrolink service at the Bob Hope Airport Train Station, challenging the wisdom of adjustments that could include significant service cuts to the Antelope Valley and possibly eliminate service from Camarillo and Oxnard.

Community gathers to honor those killed Jan. 26, 2005, in worst wreck in Metrolink history. GLENDALE -- One year ago this morning, firefighters, police and civilians struggled tirelessly to rescue victims from a twisted mass of metal that was once Metrolink commuter trains. Eleven lives were lost forever despite their best efforts. Now, a year later, Teresa Nance is looking for closure. Nance will return to the site of the crash, where her mother, Liz Hill -- a former Glendale city employee -- and 10 others died on Jan. 26, 2005, to put to rest a year of rollercoaster-like emotions and heartache.

David Silva GLENDALE -- Fair-minded residents can give their cars a break on three consecutive Saturdays by taking the Metrolink train to the Los Angeles County fairgrounds in Pomona. Riders can depart the Metrolink station, on San Fernando Road near Cerritos Avenue, for Los Angeles Union Station. From there, they can transfer to the San Bernardino line that will make a special stop at the Fairplex parking lot in Pomona. The fair service is offered on Sept.

More than three years after the deadly Metrolink crash in Chatsworth, the commuter railroad is forging ahead with the most sophisticated collision avoidance system in the country despite efforts in Congress to relax requirements to install the safety improvement nationwide. Metrolink already has made substantial progress developing its $201-million positive train control system, which uses an array of electronic gear to monitor and, if necessary, take control of trains to prevent collisions and derailments.

A $3.2-million project for intersection and rail improvements at the rail crossing at Buena Vista and Van Owen streets is scheduled to begin in March after more than five years of trying to accumulate enough funding for the work. The project has been on the books since 2005 and is tapping up to eight funding sources to break ground, city officials said. “It's something that's been a long time coming and I'm ready to start construction as soon as possible,” Burbank Assistant Public Works Director Ken Johnson said.

Metrolink, the commuter railroad that serves Southern California, has overhauled the look and content of its website to make it easier for the public to get information about routes, schedules and tickets. The new features allow commuters to plan trips, find stations, learn about service changes and create personalized accounts, called “My Metrolink.” General news about the railroad also is available as well as a calculator for ticket prices. “The vision was to improve the website's user experience to make riding the train more accessible to everyone in Metrolink's six¿county service area,” said Deborah Golian Castro, the chief executive officer of Creative Productions in Long Beach, which developed the site.

A state appellate court panel has upheld the conviction of a man who caused the deadly Metrolink train derailment in 2005 in Glendale. A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury convicted Juan Manuel Alvarez in 2008 of 11 counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson for drenching his Jeep Cherokee with gasoline and parking it on the train tracks near the border with Atwater in January 2005, causing the massive derailment. Eleven people died and nearly 200 were injured.

A state appellate court will hear arguments next month in the case of Juan Manuel Alvarez, who is appealing the 11 life sentences he received for causing the deadly Metrolink train derailment in 2005. Alvarez, a former Compton construction worker, will appeal a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury's decision in 2008 to convict him of 11 counts of first-degree murder and one count of arson. On Jan. 26, 2005, Alvarez parked his Jeep Cherokee on the train tracks that bisect Glendale and Los Angeles.

A Metrolink train covered in some 50,000 sparkling lights stopped for adoring fans in Burbank and Glendale Sunday evening as crowds donated hundreds of toys for low-income families. The Metrolink Toy Express, which benefits local nonprofits and agencies, attracted hundreds of people at each stop. In Burbank, where the firefighters' Spark of Love toy drive was beneficiary, fire engineer John Freeborn said the need was as great as ever. “The toy donations have been going down and the requests have been going up. It's just a sign of the times,” he said.

With toy donations down this year, Glendale firefighters at Station 29 were more than elated Friday to accept gifts from local Boy Scouts for their annual Spark of Love Toy Drive. Dozens of Boy Scouts delivered toys to the fire station on Honolulu Avenue, hoping to help enlarge the Fire Department's cache of gifts that will be distributed to poor and low-income children in the community this holiday season. Firefighters are also looking to gather more toy donations this Sunday at Metrolink's annual Holiday Toy Express, which will make its stop in downtown Burbank at about 5 p.m. before heading to Glendale's train station at about 5:45 p.m. -- Veronica Rocha , Times Community News Twitter: @veronicarochaLA  

California's proposed bullet train, the nation's largest public infrastructure project, has become the focus of an intense federal funding battle that could undermine its survival, as Republican leaders in Congress attempt to claw back as much as $3.3 billion in federal grants already approved for the start of construction next year. The case against the bullet train is being led by a group of California Republicans , including Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Atwater) and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield)

Firefighters across the region have kicked their Christmas toy drives into high gear in advance of Metrolink's Holiday Toy Express tour of 32 cities through mid-December. Organizers are encouraging the public to drop new, unwrapped toys off at local fire stations and at Metrolink platforms as a specially decorated train decked out in 50,000 Christmas lights makes its rounds. And of course, Santa will be riding the locomotive. The campaign typically collects thousands of toys that are distributed to local needy families ahead of Christmas.

Bicyclists got their own parking structure Monday at the Metrolink station in downtown Burbank -- a secure building with 40 parking stalls, a repair stand and other features that officials say should entice more people to use public transit. A longtime gripe among cyclists in the L.A. region has been the lack of accommodations for their bikes at public transit hubs, but Burbank and state transportation officials on Monday touted the so-called Bike Stop a major leap in convenience.